Dingo's Day in WA - The Build

Everyone else was doing one so why not me?

THE BUILD UP

Leading in to the race I didn’t know whether I was more excited about racing or the holiday to come, as I didn’t take my usual Winter overseas junket this year, and was in much need of time off. Training through the Sydney winter sucked, it was cold and wet, especially those last few weekends where it poured and poured and poured and only those doing WA were out there training (and Damo and Mark – thanks guys). I truly feel sorry for Fiona and Grace training in London and Melbourne winters.

Anyway Gina, Lisa and I departed for WA on Wednesday before, leaving a cold Sydney arriving in a warm Perth. After collecting our Ironman Family Car (white Tarago – every triathlete had this car, it was truly a sight) and squeezing the three bikes in, we made the 2 ½ hour journey south to Busselton. Just before arrival it was decided to drive part of the bike course, and we joined it at turn 1 (about 25km into the lap). I am afraid to mention this but all three of us got out of the car and felt the road, to see how smooth it was. We were all happy. Driving the course we couldn’t believe how truly flat it is, and we discussed how fast it would be if conditions were right.

Upon arrival in Busselton we headed straight to the jetty, and let me say, the photo on the website does not actually show how beautiful this place is. Looking at the road and the swim course, you could tell we were excited.

Off to the accommodation and Gina did a FANTASTIC job. We stayed in Abbey, about a 10 minute drive to Race HQ, but who cared. We were across the road from the beach, and a truly magical place. This water is soooooooo clean and blue.

On Thursday morning we all arose (John, Lisa, Gina and I) to head to the official swim session. They close the pier between 7am -9am to boats and had buoys and life guards there to keep the peace.

We got there a little early arriving at 6:30, and got ready. Picture this, suns up at 4am, not a cloud in the sky, absolutely no wind, Indian Ocean like glass, it was the PERFECT race day (only 4 days early).

Anyway, we couldn’t wait to get wet, but everybody was hesitant about going in first, it is Great White territory. A few short words to the life guards, promising sharks had never come in the bay (the bay is 20km long!), and Gina was off on one of her PASSION swims, leaving Lisa, John and I wondering what happened. It didn’t us take long to get in, and I have spoken to a few of you about this, but from about 20 metres off shore there was a school of fish that stretch for about 300 metres up the side of the pier. There were literally hundreds and thousands of fish. The water was so clean and fresh that you could see forever. We swum about 1km off shore and then just floated and snorkelled as best we could. The marine life is spectacular, and friendly too. A massive cod was interested in my toes on this day, and over the next few days Lisa and I were bitten by crabs.

From here on in we just chilled and watched movies, swum at beach and prepared (carbo-loaded). On the Thursday night everyone came around for BBQ including Charlotte, Christain, Fiona, Wendo and Phil (sorry Rod we couldn’t find you).

As I said the Thursday morning was perfect race conditions and this was the last we saw of that. Over the next few days, the wind that Pete told me about came. It grew harder and harder each day. Temps got colder and colder each day, and the sun slowly disappeared.